Facebook Follies

Although the title specifically mentions Facebook, this CBC-aired documentary examines the wider consequences of sharing too much personal information online, ultimately serving as a solid cautionary guide for social media users, both veterans and neophytes. As an Internet security expert cautions, free services tend to come with a price since the personal details that users provide can end up in marketing or hacking schemes. Furthermore, data often doesn't disappear—not for those with the technological know-how to retrieve it—so it's best to be cautious at all times. One scenario concerns a famous figure who embarrassed himself publicly, but most are about private citizens whose actions brought misfortune their way, such as a 16-year-old in Hamburg who posted a birthday party invitation to Facebook that accidentally targeted over 2,000 people due to a privacy-setting mishap; more than 1,500 individuals showed up, and police had to disburse the rowdy throng. In another example, a disgruntled airline passenger tweeted a terrorist-like threat about a delayed flight, an error in judgment that resulted in a trip to court, a steep fine, and a lifelong ban from the Sheffield airport. In other instances, users lost homes, marriages, and political campaigns through misinterpreted pictures and posts—the most infamous example being Congressman Anthony Weiner, who texted an explicit image that went viral and contributed to his resignation. Not all bad news, Facebook Follies also touches on some of the more positive aspects of social sharing, such as singles finding soul mates, orphans connecting with relatives, and thieves and other miscreants managing to direct authorities to their doors because they bragged about their exploits online. Also featuring an abridged 42-minute version for classroom use, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)